This Greek model dish of gigantes plaki, buttery lima beans baked in a tomato sauce, may be served as a mezze (an appetizer) or as a tasty facet dish. It is a easy recipe loaded with a lot alluring Mediterranean taste and it is really easy to make!

The best of meals can typically be the yummiest, and this straightforward however basic Greek dish of gigantes, or big beans, is an ideal instance of that. Creamy lima beans are drowned in a tangy, herb-seasoned tomato sauce and the result’s nothing wanting spectacular — and terribly scrumptious.
The gigantes beans, additionally referred to as butter beans for cause, turn out to be mushy and creamy within the oven and the tomato sauce mellows right into a wealthy, alluring sweetness. And all this utilizing solely pantry elements.
I shared this recipe with you just a few years again and it is since garnered greater than 130 five-star evaluations from readers. I’m updating the outdated submit with new images of the ultimate dish and extra step-by-step directions and images to make clear the method of constructing these gigantes. In case you are nonetheless sitting on the fence, I hope this may make you go for it!
Desk of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- There’s a lot taste packed on this easy recipe. Lima beans are amongst my favorites to cook dinner with as a result of they cook dinner so shortly! I am keen on them in recipes like this lima bean curry and mashed lima bean potatoes. On this gigantes recipe the creamy beans with the tangy-sweet tomatoes are wonderful!
- You want simply eight elements. There are just a few further elements which are utterly elective. And all the things used on this recipe comes from the pantry.
- It is a easy dish. Placing this dish collectively is really easy and it’s suited even to newbie cooks, as long as you observe directions.
- It is a versatile dish. You may serve these Greek beans as an appetizer or a facet. Or you may make a meal of it by serving them with a crusty slice of bread drizzled with olive oil.
- It is a beautiful dish. I like the deep purple of this dish and it by no means fails to wow.
- It is suited to all diets. Vegan, soy-free, nut-free, gluten-free–we’ve obtained you coated!

Elements
- Large lima beans. You need to use canned massive or big lima beans, or common lima beans, on this recipe. I cook dinner mine from scratch and since limas cook dinner so shortly you needn’t soak the beans in a single day. You will want a pound of big or massive lima beans.
- Further virgin olive oil
- Aromatics: Onions and garlic.
- Tomatoes: You will want two sorts on this recipe–canned diced tomatoes (pureed tomatoes will do) and tomato paste. If utilizing canned plum tomatoes crush them together with your fingers earlier than including to the pan.
- Herbs: Dried thyme and dried oregano.
- Salt and floor black pepper.
Optionally available elements:
- Paprika: I take advantage of this primarily for coloration. You may skip it with no noticeable lack of taste.
- Celery. I take advantage of it simply as typically as I do not. You may skip it if you do not have it and you’ll nonetheless get nice outcomes.
- Contemporary herbs: Use chopped parsley or oregano, if desired, for garnish.

Recipe FAQs
To cook dinner the lima beans on the range, place the lima beans in a lare pot or saucepan. Cowl with two inches of water, season with salt and add a bay leaf if desired. Carry to a boil, cowl and cook dinner half-hour over medium low warmth or till the beans are tender. Add extra water if the pot dries up at any level. Drain the beans earlier than utilizing.
Large lima beans are conventional for this recipe however if you cannot discover them you should use common lima beans.
Sure, assuming they’re cooked, you may add them on to the pot. If not, cook dinner them in boiling water till they’re tender earlier than including.
Storage directions
- Refrigerate: Retailer the baked beans within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Freeze: Place the gigantes in a freezer protected container or hermetic container and freeze for as much as three months.
- Reheat: Thaw, if frozen. Reheat within the oven or microwave.
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Gigantes (Greek Lima Beans)
This straightforward however beautiful Greek model dish of gigantes plaki, buttery lima beans baked in a wealthy tomato sauce, may be served as a mezze (an appetizer) or as a tasty facet dish. It is a easy recipe loaded with a lot taste and it is really easy to make!
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Servings: 8 servings
Energy: 101kcal
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Directions
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Rinse the dried massive lima beans in loads of water. Place the beans and 5 cups water within the Prompt Pot liner. Add a teaspoon of salt and, if you’d like, a bay leaf. See recipe notes beneath for stovetop directions.
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Prepare dinner the beans for 25 minutes and permit strain to launch naturally. If quick on time, drive launch 10 minutes after cooking has ended. Pressure the beans and put aside.
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Preheat oven to 350 levels Fahrenheit/180 levels Celsius.
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Warmth olive oil in a skillet or massive saucepan with the garlic. As soon as the garlic takes on a light-weight golden coloration add the onions and celery, if utilizing. Season with salt and floor black pepper. Saute 5 minutes or till onions have softened.
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Add the dried oregano and dried thyme. Combine.
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Stir within the diced tomatoes or tomato puree and the tomato paste. Add paprika, if utilizing.
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Add two cups of water or vegetable inventory. Combine nicely and convey to a boil.
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Add the cooked lima beans to the pot and gently stir them in. Do not mash the beans, you need them complete within the last dish.
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Carry the lima beans to a boil. Test seasoning and add extra salt and pepper if wanted. Flip off the range.
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Pour the lima beans combination right into a 4-quart or bigger baking dish
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Place in a preheated 350 diploma Fahrenheit oven and bake 60-70 minutes or till the highest is crusty. Garnish with contemporary parsley or oregano, if desired, and serve scorching, heat or at room temperature.
Recipe notes
- To cook dinner the lima beans on the range, place the lima beans in a lare pot or saucepan. Cowl with two inches of water, season with salt and add a bay leaf if desired. Carry to a boil, cowl and cook dinner half-hour over medium low warmth or till the beans are tender. Add extra water if the pot dries up at any level. Pressure the beans earlier than utilizing.
Storage directions
- Refrigerate: Retailer the baked beans within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Freeze: Place the gigantes in a freezer protected container or hermetic container and freeze for as much as three months.
- Reheat: Thaw, if frozen. Reheat within the oven or microwave.
Diet
Energy: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 5g | Fats: 2g | Saturated Fats: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 369IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3mg


